Field Gulls
The Seahawks restructured Leonard Williams’ contract, but that’s not the only lever Seattle can pull to open up salary cap space.
The Seattle Seahawks restructured Leonard Williams’ contract to free up some cap space. This is just one of a series of moves the team must make to first be in compliance with the cap (the team is currently about $14M over the cap) and have room to make signings in free agency.
DISCLAIMER 1: I’m not a cap expert like John P Gilbert, but I did my best with the data from overthecap.com.
DISCLAIMER 2: This is not a suggestion, and, obviously, not all the moves should be made (we are not in Madden), but a combination of them.
Instead of trading one of the best players on the team (as many fans have suggested this offseason), the Seahawks could extend DK’s contract, spreading his cap hit further in addition to securing the WR. This extension would allow the Seahawks to open up around $13M in cap space. This would let Seattle keep one of the most talented WRs it has ever had, who could be the fundamental vertical threat in Klint Kubiak’s scheme.
He will have $6M in guarantees on the Friday after the Super Bowl (February 14). Cutting him before that date opens up $8M in the cap. The team can still try to restructure the contract and manage to open up almost $10M. Nwosu is coming off a season in which he spent a lot of time injured. Therefore, it is normal to rethink his continuity, especially at this price.
The veteran has a little over $5M in bonuses to receive if he is on the roster on March 17th. If the team cuts or trades him before that, they will be able to open up $17M. The team can try to restructure (again) the contract, try a pay cut or make a new contract arrangement based on incentives.
However, I believe that the last options are unlikely to happen, as well as some team trying to trade for him. I believe there are only two real hypotheses: he stays with the Seahawks on his current contract, or he will be cut before the FA.
Geno has a cap hit of $44.5M. Not even John Schneider would be able to keep him for that amount with the team desperate for cap. Despite the rumors that the Raiders would trade for him, it is very unlikely to happen. Therefore, the best probabilities would be to cut or extend him to try manage cap hit this year. I would make a contract based on goals and incentives. Something similar to what they did in the last renewal of the QB. Geno is open to that?
I never liked his contract. The TE role was never used much by Ryan Grubb, but Fant only managed one TD in the...
